Delivery System for Cleaning &amp; Maintaining Drains and Methods Associated Therewith

ABSTRACT

The invention is configured to be installed into an existing or a newly installed drain and hold a cleaning agent. No power is needed, and it operates from the natural flow of water being used or dispensed by the plumbing fixtures. The array of slots in the invention allows for proper drainage, and the plumbing will function as intended.

This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/118,926 filed Feb. 20, 2015, the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to specially designed devices that aredesigned and/or adapted to fit in drains so as to be able to cleanand/or maintain drains. In one embodiment, the device of the presentinvention comprises a compartment for holding chemicals that can be usedto clean and/or maintain a drain.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One of the most troublesome aspects about plumbing in buildings such ashouses is when it hacks up and/or a clog forms. Generally, the plumbingcan back up and/or a clog can form due to any of a plurality of causes.These causes include but are not limited to the presence of greaseand/or fat, hair, or a foreign object such as paper (like diapers,toilet paper, baby wipes, paper towels, and feminine products) orproducts such as dental floss, toothpaste, or hair products or any of anumber of other products. When the plumbing backs up, a homeowner has toeither use a product that can be bought to remove the clog (such asdrain cleaners like DRANO (S.C. Johnson and Son, Racine, Wis.) and/orplungers, snakes or other products) and/or a plumber can be contacted.For stubborn clogs, the drain cleaning products may not clear the drainnecessitating the call of a plumber, meaning the homeowner incurs anexpensive fix to the clog. In the event that the drain cleaning productis able to clear the clog, the homeowner is often forced to spend largeamounts of time addressing the problem.

Thus, current methods for treating clogged/unsanitary drains includeflushing chemicals down the pipes. There are countless things that godown drains and create mold and bacteria-infested environments, andthere is simply no good way of treating the drain without disassemblingthe sink to clean the plumbing pipes. Pouring chemicals down the draintreats an immediate problem but does not continuously maintain thecleanliness of a drain.

Another troublesome aspect of plumbing in buildings such as homes is thegathering of undesirable materials such as dirt, grime, oil, bacteria,algae, fungi, mold, lichen, or other undesirables at the drain. Thisproblem may be exacerbated in buildings where a clean drain is required(such as a hospital). The presence of bacteria, fungi, mold, or lichenat the drain may lead to disease states such as infections.

Accordingly, it is desired that a device and associated methods becreated that deals with the above problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of plumbing and drain cleaning. Inone embodiment, the invention relates to removing bacteria and mold thataccumulate inside pipes over time. in another embodiment, the presentinvention seeks to tackle the problem by consistently administering acleaning agent that will maintain cleanliness and prevent the growth ofmold, mildew, fungi, and/or lichen. Additionally, the present inventionin one embodiment also relates to treating and/or preventing the spreadof viruses such as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)and other staph bacteria.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to methods to hold andcontain a cleaning agent that over time as water collects and flows overthe cleaning agent, cleans your drain, which has the additional benefitof reducing the need for using drain cleaning mechanical devices andchemicals. In one embodiment, the use of the device of the presentinvention will increase the longevity of the drain. In an embodiment,the design of the device is comprised of a basket-like bolder that willhold the cleaning agent and allow the water to how normally as if thedevice were not present. Additional features can be incorporated to helpdirect the flow of water to the walls of the pipe. The device isdesigned so that the simple contact by the flowing water is sufficientto disperse the cleaning agent to the needed location. The presentinvention has many applications: In addition to its potential use on thedrains of bathtubs, sinks and showers, it can be used in hot-tub drains,outside drains and any other place where a drain may be present. In oneembodiment, the intent of the invention is to clean the drain includingletting the cleaning agent clean and remove bacteria, mold and mildewbuild-up.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a design for the shower drain.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a design for the sink drain.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing assembled to an existing drainstopper.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a drain cover with a top part.

FIG. 6 is an embodiment that shows a compartment designed for a kitchensink that contains a garbage disposal.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the presentinvention showing the compartment that is seen in FIG. 6, which has beenplaced in a drain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be described with respect to the various embodimentsthat are shown in the figures but it should be understood thatmodifications can be made to the invention. For example, it iscontemplated and therefore within the scope of the present inventionthat any one or more feature that is present in any of the embodimentsthat are shown in the figures can be added to any other embodiment evenif that one or more feature is not shown with the other embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the present inventionin its installed state. In this embodiment, the drain compartment 10comprises two parts a top part 7 and a bottom part (everything else inthe figure besides top part 7, chemical solid 5, and drain 4). The draincompartment 10 is configured to be a drop-in component that is easilyremoved and can be monitored (one can see through holes 1). The draincompartment 10 also allows for proper flow and drainage. As shown inFIG. 1, the drain compartment 10 has top holes 1 that allows the passageof water from a shower head or from a tap to pass from a sink, shower,or tub into the drain compartment 10. Drain compartment 10 is designedso as to permit its insertion into pipe 4. Lip 6 prevents the devicefrom dropping down into the plumbing pipe 4. When water passes throughtop holes 1, the water contacts solid chemical 5, which is at leastpartially water soluble. Solid chemical 5 forms a solution with waterthat will clean the plumbing and/or remove obstructions in the plumbing.Depending on the type of solid chemical 5 used, the resulting aqueoussolution may be used to clean dirt and/or grime, and/or prevent and/ortreat the build-up or formation of bacteria, mold, mildew, fungi, orlichen, or dissolve materials that may be causing the plumbing to beblocked.

In one contemplated embodiment, a series of different chemicals may beused that can address any of a plurality of these problems. As can beseen in FIG. 1, the top holes 1 and the side holes 3 allow the passageof water or any liquid into compartment 10 and once the water or liquidcontacts the solid chemical 5, the resultant aqueous solution containingthe chemical that derives from solid chemical 5 passes through thebottom holes 2. The shape of the device helps influence the path of thewater and directs the water to the walls of the pipe. Top part 7 of thecompartment can be removed from the bottom part allowing the insertionof the solid chemical 5 into the bottom part and once the solid chemical5 has been inserted into the bottom part of the compartment, top part 7can be replaced so as to generate a flush surface with the bottom of thereceptacle (e.g., a bathtub or shower).

In one embodiment, the solid chemical that may be used include one ormore of a solid bleach, and/or one or more chemicals selected from thegroup consisting of sodium hydroxide (lye), sodium nitrate, sodiumchloride (salt), sodium hypochlorite, aluminum, chlorine, bromine,iodine, benzoic arid and its salts, imidazoles, triazoles, thiazoles,allylamines, echinocandins, ciclopirox, flucytosine, griseofulvin,haloprogin, tolnaftate, undecylenic acid, crystal violet, balsam ofPeru, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, ion exchange resins, limesoftening agents, baking soda, calcium chloride, magnesium sulfate, pHadjusters, and citric acid and/or the salts of any of these chemicals.It is desired that the chemical be present in the solid state, however,chemical modifications may be necessary to make any liquid a solid,including conversion of the chemical to a salt and/or addition of anacid or base to the chemical.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, an embodiment is shown wherein there aredifferent size holes 21, 23, 24 in the bottom part of the compartmentthat allow the passage of water but not the passage of the solid (thatsolid is not shown) that would rest in the compartment. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 2 there are nubs 22 that arise from the rim 25that allow a top part of the compartment (not shown) to snap into place.The to part of the compartment would contain a corresponding number ofholes that correspond to each of the nubs 22 positioned so that each ofthe nubs 22 can accommodate the holes in the top part of thecompartment. Additionally, the top part of the compartment may haveadditional holes that allow the passage of water through the to part(see the top part 7 in FIG. 1 for an example of the holes that may bepresent that allow the passage of water).

It should be understood that the holes 23 in FIG. 2 may be of differentshapes and sizes or alternatively, they may all be uniform. Moreover,the compartment may of a different size (such as having the compartmentbe longer or shorter). Further, the bottom of the compartment may beflat or alternatively, it may have a convex or a concave shape.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.The compartment 30 in this embodiment contains a tapered side 31, whichis designed to fit into a dram. The tapered side 33 is positioned sothat the compartment 30 fits so that the highest point on top 31 isdesigned to sit flush with the receptacle (e.g. a bathtub or shower) inwhich the compartment 30 sits. The compartment 30 contains slits 32,which allows the passage of water. The compartment 30 also contains ahole 34 at the bottom of the compartment 30, which is able toaccommodate a drain stopper (not shown in FIG. 3 but a similar drainstopper 42 that could fit in compartment 30 is shown in FIG. 4,described below). In one variation and as shown in FIG. 3, the top 31 ofthe compartment 30 is designed in a manner similar to a puzzle so that acorresponding top (not shown) that would fit like a puzzle can be placedon the top of compartment 30. The top (not shown) in one embodiment canbe designed so that it is sits flush with the bottom of the receptaclein which it sits (e.g. a bathtub or shower) when it is combined with thecompartment 30.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The device 40comprises compartment 45, which is designed to accommodate a drainstopper 42. In one variation and as shown in FIG. 4, drain stopper 42comprises a flexible stopper 43 that is made of a water impermeablesubstance (and is flexible) such as neoprene. It should be understoodthat other flexible water impermeable materials are also suitable to beused as flexible stopper 43. The flexible stopper 43 is designed so asto be able to fit inside the drain and to compress if necessary in thedrain to stop the flow of water through the drain when the drain stopper42 is depressed in a downwardly manner into compartment 45. The drainstopper 42 also comprises top stopper 44, which when closed (i.e., whendrain stopper is depressed in a downwardly manner into compartment 45)in one embodiment is designed so as to sit flush with the receptacle(e.g., a shower or bathtub) in which the device 40 sits. In a variation,the top stopper 44, when closed (i.e., when drain stopper is depressedin a downwardly manner into compartment 45) in one embodiment isdesigned so as to sit above the level of the receptacle (e.g., a showeror bathtub) in which the device 40 sits. Although not shown in FIG. 4,the compartment 45 may also contain a hole in the bottom (similar tohole 34 shown in FIG. 3) that is designed to accommodate the drainstopper 42. Drain stopper 42 may comprise a spring, a catch, and a screwat the bottom of drain stopper 42 that is designed so that drain stopper42 can be screwed into a female nut in the drain that allows the drainstopper 42 to be secured to the drain (not shown). The catch is designedso that when the top stopper 44 is depressed in downwardly manner onetime, the drain is designed to close and the flexible stopper 43 stopsthe passage of water. When depressed again (from the closed, position)in downwardly manner, the catch releases and the drain toggles into theopen position. The spring in drain stopper 42 in the closed position iscompressed whereas when the drain stopper 42 is in the open position thespring, is relaxed. Accordingly, the spring is designed so that when thedrain stopper 42 is in the open position, the flexible stopper 43 isabove a level that is flush with the receptacle (e.g., the shower orbathtub), which allows passage of water. It should be noted that theinner diameter of compartment 45 is larger than the outer diameter ofdrain stopper 42 so as to be able to accommodate a solid chemical (notshown) between the inner diameter of compartment 45 and outer diameterof drain stopper 42. Thus, when water passes through the device 40, thechemical solid dissolves allowing the drain to be cleaned and/orde-clogged (and/or to prevent clogging).

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of another device 50 of the invention.The device 50 that is shown in FIG. 5 comprises a top part 51 and acompartment (or bottom part) that is designed to fit in drain plumbing52. Both top part 51 and the bottom part have holes 56 and 55,respectively that allow the passage of water. Top part 51 also comprisesa latch 53 that is designed to allow the top part 51 to be secured vialatch 53 to the bottom part at catch 54. In one embodiment, top part 51can be positioned in the opening in bottom part and when top part 51 isturned a quarter turn (˜90°), the latch 53 is designed to catch and besecured to the bottom part at catch 54 so that the top part 51 cannot beturned any further. Turning the top part 51 in the opposite directionallows the latch 53 on top part 51 to be released from catch 54 allowingtop part 51 to be removed, to insert a solid, chemical into thecompartment. Slits 57 allow passage of water and/or other liquidswithout the passage of the solid chemical.

FIG. 6 shows another compartment 60 that is designed to fit into akitchen sink that may or may not have a garbage disposal. Compartment 60comprises top part 64 and bottom part 65, wherein top part 64 can beremoved from bottom part 65. Bottom part 65 has slits 61 that allow thepassage of water and holes 62 that in one embodiment are very small thatalso allow the passage of water. The compartment 60 is designed in adonut shape with central hole 63 that can allow the passage of foodand/or particles that may go to the garbage disposal. To part 64 alsocomprises holes 66 that allow the passage of water through the top part.As in all of the other embodiments, the compartment 60 is designed toaccommodate a solid chemical in the interior of the compartment thatslowly dissolves when exposed to water so as to clean the drain and/orplumbing and/or prevents or treats clogs (depending on the solidchemical used). In one variation, compartment 60 is designed so that itcan be easily removed from the kitchen drain so that larger foodparticles can go down the drain into the garbage disposal. Central hole63 may facilitate this easy removal as one can easily use central holeas a means of facilitating the removal of the compartment from thedrain.

FIG. 7 shows a system 70 that comprises plumbing 72 and the compartment71. The compartment 71 has a central hole 73 that allows the passage offood and other appropriate articles/particles into the garbage disposal.Although FIG. 7 is shown with a slight gap between the outer diameter ofcompartment 71 and the inner diameter of plumbing 72, it should beunderstood that in one embodiment, the Outer diameter or compartment 71is positioned so that there is no gap between the outer diameter ofcompartment 71 and the inner diameter of plumbing 72. In thisembodiment, food and other appropriate particles/articles can only passthrough central hole 73. Central hole 73 also allows a user to easilyremove the compartment 71 from the plumbing 72 in the case where largerfood particles or other larger articles are desired to be passed downinto the garbage disposal.

All of the embodiments of the present invention contemplate using theinvention as a reservoir to hold a chemical agent that can be used forcleaning and or de-clogging while at the same time will allow for properdrainage and water to flow over the solid chemical to deliver thecleaning agent to the plumbing (e.g., the walls of the pipes). Theembodiments of the present invention are designed to be elegant so thatthere is no additional hardware required to install the device (e.g., noscrews or other affixing means are required other than the drain stopper42 screw that is described in FIG. 4). The installation is simple andeasy for the end user. The existing drain cover in plumbing can bereplaced by the embodiments of the present invention and the inventionis easy and ready for use. It should be understood that there are aplurality of possibilities for integration into current and futureplumbing fixtures as there is a constant need to clean and maintaindrains in homes, hotels, hospitals, and many other areas where it isdesirable to maintain sanitary drains.

Accordingly, in an embodiment, the present invention relates to acontainer (sometimes referred to as a compartment) that is designed tofit into to drain in household plumbing, wherein said container isdesigned so as to allow passage of water and/or other liquids while atthe same time is also designed to hold a solid that is placed in thecontainer wherein said solid can be slowly dissolved so as to maintaincleanliness of the household plumbing and/or to prevent and/or treatclogs of the household plumbing.

In one variation, the container may have one or more holes that are ofas size that allows the passage of the water and/or other liquids whilemaintaining the solid in the container.

In a variation, the container is made of a hard plastic. In otherembodiments the container is made of metal or a hard rubber.

In one embodiment, the container may comprise as plurality of holes thatare present and the holes may be of the same or of different sizes thatallow the passage of water and/or other liquids but not the passage ofsolids.

In one variation, the container may comprise two parts, a top part and abottom part, the to part being designed so as to be able to secure thetop part to the bottom part, wherein both the bottom part and the toppart comprise one or more holes that allows passage of the water and/orother liquids, wherein the bottom part is designed so as to hold a solidthat can be slowly dissolved by the water and/or other liquid so as tomaintain the cleanliness of the household plumbing and/or to prevent ortreat clogs of the household plumbing.

When the container comprises two parts, the container may comprise ahard plastic, a metal, or a hard rubber, or any combination of these.For example, the bottom may be a hard plastic and the top may becomprised of metal. Alternatively and/or additionally, the bottom partmay be made of metal and plastic and the top part may be made of metalor plastic or metal and plastic. Alternatively and/or additionally, anyvariation of these three materials is contemplated and therefore withinthe scope of the invention.

In one embodiment, the bottom part when combined with the top part isdesigned so as to prevent pooling of the water and/or other liquid at adrain site when the container is in use.

In one variation of the invention, the bottom part comprises one or morenubs and the top part comprises a corresponding number of one or moreholes designed to accommodate said one or more nubs, said one or morenubs of the bottom part designed to fit into said one or more holes ofthe top part allowing the top part to be secured to the bottom part.Alternatively, latches and catches may be employed or a puzzle likeshape may be used that allows the top part to be secured to the bottompart.

In one variation of the invention, the invention contemplates using thecontainers (compartments) of the present invention for methods includingmethods to clean plumbing, methods of de-clogging drains, or methods ofpreventing the clogging of drains.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with thefigures, it should be understood that variations can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. As discussedabove, the present invention incorporates and contemplates that anyfeature that is present in any of the embodiments can be combined withany other feature of any other embodiment even if that feature is notshown with that embodiment. Nevertheless, the present invention isfurther defined by the below claims.

I claim:
 1. A container that is designed to fit into a drain in household plumbing, wherein said container is designed so as to allow passage of water and or other liquids while at the same time is also designed to hold a solid that is placed in the container wherein said solid can be slowly dissolved so as to maintain cleanliness of the household plumbing and/or to prevent and or treat clogs of the household plumbing.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein said container comprises one or more holes that are of a size that allows the passage of the water and/or other liquids while maintaining the solid in the container.
 3. The container of claim 2, wherein the container is made of a hard plastic.
 4. The container of claim 2, wherein a plurality of holes are present and the holes are of different sizes.
 5. The container of claim 3, wherein a plurality of holes are present and the boles are of different sizes.
 6. The container of claim 1, wherein the container comprises two parts, a top part and a bottom part, the top part being designed so as to be able to secure the top part to the bottom part, wherein both the bottom part and the top part comprise one or more holes that allows passage of the water and or other liquids, wherein the bottom part is designed so as to hold a solid that can be slowly dissolved by the water and or other liquid so as to maintain the cleanliness of the household plumbing and or to prevent or treat clogs of the household plumbing.
 7. The container of claim 6, wherein the container comprises a hard plastic.
 8. The container of claim 6, wherein the bottom part when combined with the top part are designed so as to prevent pooling of the water and/or other liquid at a drain site when the container is in use.
 9. The container of claim 6, wherein the bottom part comprises one or more nubs and the top part comprises a corresponding number of one or more holes designed to accommodate said one or more nubs, said one or more nubs of the bottom part designed to fit into said one or more holes of the top part allowing the top part to be secured to the bottom part.
 10. A method of cleaning a drain comprising inserting the container of claim 1 into the drainage area of plumbing.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method optionally also de-clogs the plumbing.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the method optionally also prevents the clogging of the plumbing. 